(03-02-2016, 02:34 PM)Viewfromthe42 Wrote: Sometimes, it's how UpTown is, where you can't build higher than 4 storeys on King, unless you are far enough back that you can't see the building from the opposite side of King as a pedestrian (try looking at the Princess condominiums from the east side of king, you almost can't see the top above any existing or theoretical 3-4 storey streetfront).
Other times, it's pressure from neighbours, such as those who pushed hard (unsuccessfully) to declare the 6-storey Red condos as being too tall for King Street, due to the people who lived behind the lot. Established neighbourhoods, especially heritage ones, exert not only a development freeze on their internals, but outwards towards any neighbour they could theoretically see or hear.
As long as tall buildings have proper setbacks they shouldn't be an issue - the trouble starts when you try to squeeze a tall building onto a small lot. We were all thoroughly educated at the 100 Vic OMB hearing: Light, Skyview and Privacy are universal principles that create positive dwelling environments for humans - setbacks provide for these elements in tall residential buildings.
On the topic of the OMB hearing, the owner of the Huck glove building attended several days of the hearing - and the city planner let it slip at one point during cross examination that they had been talking to him - seeming to suggest that something is in the works, but no idea what.
Overall, I wouldn't stress about not seeing enough tall building developments downtown Kitchener - we still have the entirety of the Brahm st (former) city works yards to be redeveloped, along with the old warehouse and parking lot between the pharmacy school and 72 Victoria (and those are squarely in the 'innovation district' which the OP designates for intensification, whereas 5 Michael is not), never mind whatever is going up at the transit hub and whatever takes shape at King's Crossing.